old times

Oh well, autumn is in full flow now. In school, the first tests are looming, and kindergardeners prepare for what is called the hellish season, because one highlight chases the other: Thanksgiving, St. Martin, Krampus, nativity play, and yes, that´s the chronology in good old Middle Europe. Fortunately having no more children at this age, I watch our neighbors preparing for the worst. The fight who is allowed to play Martin and who has to carry the latern is in full spite, yet. That reminds me of a very special St. Martin celebration in our church. My son had a bestest friend in kindergarten. The lad had been sort of neglected the days before, because word had reached the family, that the pater familias had found an untimely death in some Australian canyon, where he unwittingly had a fall with his jeep while exploring the landscape. Alas, he had not met his fate alone, at his side had been the nanny, who hadn´t been able to take care of the boy because of a sudden sickness, which, in the end, turned out lethal. So, bereft of father and nursemaid in one go and the family being atwitter, the little one decided to give his kindergarten-friends a very special performance: He parked his wooden horse, he took his cloak, he drew his sword. All eyes focused on him, or better, his sword. His very long and definitely not wooden sword. Did I tell you already the boy had been a bit neglected? I did, of course. What I did not tell, was that the parents owned a butcher´s shop, and the little guy had had the nerve to bring the biggest knife he´d found there. Fortunately our vicar came to the rescue, confiscating the weapon and thus saving the boy and the cloak. This St. Martin celebration is said to have been the most authentic one in the kindergarden´s history. It is also said that the Sister had been caught drinking a glass of hard liquor afterwards. Unfortunately my son had not seen any of this happen, because he was occupied in whining, because he had had to resign the role of Martin to his friend. Maybe I should take a peek into our church, when the proud parents and grandparents meet for this year´s  celebration. There´s always hope something funny might happen!